Header



R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13,1920.

1,405, 174 Patented Jan. 31, 1922,

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

$14 uewtoz Wamm {50$ I than) R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3, 1920.

1,405,174. Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I Wines:

R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV. 13, 19 20.

1 05,174, Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- @I- In I v 'R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. I920.

1,405,174 Patelited Jan. 31,1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV I3|1920.

1,405,174, Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5- R. L. WILCOX.

HEADER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13.1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD LESTER WIICOX, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATERBURY FARREL FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF WATER-- BURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HEADER.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

Application filed November 13, 1920. Serial No. 423,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD Lns'rnn WIL- oox, a citizen of the United States, residmg at W'aterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headers, of which the following is a specification, reference-being had therem to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in headers referring more particularly to the solid die type and it is the object of the invention, among other things, to provide a machine wlth continuously operating parts that perform heavy duty and at the will of the operator the parts performing light duty are operated through a connection with the contmuously operating parts.

To these and other ends my invention consists in the header having certain details of construction and combinations-of parts as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of header'embodying my improvements; F g ure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of one s de thereof; F igure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the side thereof opposite to that shown in Figure 2'; Figured is a transverse sectional view of some of the arts taken generally upon lines 4-4 of igure 1; F igure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the die and adjacent parts taken generally upon lines 55 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tool slide; Figure 7 is an elevation of one end of the bed of the header with some of the parts taken in section upon lines 7-7 of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the knock-out mechanism and adjacent part taken generally upon lines 8-8 of Figure 3; Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view ofmy improved header with one form of stop mechanism illustrated in connection therewith; Figure 10 is a sectlonal plan view of the CBJlL-fi-Ild adjacent parts taken generally upon lines 10-10 of Figure 9; and Figure 11 is an elevation thereof.

My improvements are applied to a type of header invented by me and which is the of the operator. The form of machine that,

is the subject of the said allowed application relates to a machine of the open die type wherein the feed line of .the wire and the upsetting or heading lines are coincident. Thepresent invention is applied to machines of the solid die type, that is, where the die is solid and the wire 'feed line is upon one side of the upsetting line. This fundamental difference between the open die and solid die type of header requires operations in the latter type that are not necessary in the former and one of the objects of my invention is to provide means whereby the secondary mechanism or partsof light duty in the solid die type may be operated from the main crank shaft at the will of the operator.

In the form df machine illustrated, which is only one of the many forms to which my invention is applicable, the reference numeral 1O designates the frame or bed of the machine in which is rotatably mounted the main crank shaft 11 having fixed thereon suitable fly wheelslQ. Slidably mounted in the frame 10 is a gate 13 that is operated from the main crank shaft 11 through the toggle mechanism 14 and suitably mounted in the forward end of this gate 13 is the punch or tool slide 15 with which is connected the upsetting punches or tools 16.

ion 29, the teeth connected ,in the hub 31 header a like number of punches or tools are used, that is, either three or four. 4

Where a plurality of punches or tools are utilized, the tool slide '15 has a movement across the face of the gate 13 so as to bring the center line of the punches or tools successively into line with the center of the die. The mechanism for perforating this movement of the slide comprises the linkage mechanism 18 that isoperated from a cam 19 upon the auxiliary shaft 20. This mechanism for imparting movement to this punch or tool slide is of a well known type and therefore requires no further detailed description.-

In the inner face of one end of the frame 10 is secured a die holder 21 by means of a key 22 and in which is mounted a backing late 23 and a solid die 24 having an openmg 25 therethrough. against movement by any of the means common to the art, that shown herein being the screw 26 threaded through the die holder 21.

Upon the under side the die holder 21 is supported by a screw 27 in a plate 28 secured to the frame or bed of the machine 10. By this method of supporting the die holder it may be adjusted vertically so as to insure a proper registerlng of the die opening 25 with the punches or tools 16 and 17.

Fixed upon the crank shaft 11 1s a pmof which mesh into those of a gear 30 rotatably mounted upon the auxiliary or secondary shaft 20, adjacent to a hub 31, within which a key 32 is mounted so as to have a reciprocating movement parallel to the axis of the shaft. This key, having a notch 33 in one side thereof near one end rotates in the path of the end of a clutch lever 34 pivotally connected with the frame or bed 10 upon the stud 35 and held against lateral movement in one direction by the guide bar 36.

This clutch and its operation is of the type shown in the aforesaid patent and requires no further description here, except to briefly state that when the clutch lever 34 is in the position shown in Figure 3, the end of the key 32 is out of engagement with the notch 37 in the hub of the gear 30 so that the gear rotates freely upon the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 without im-- parting movement thereto. When the lever 1s moved out of this position, through the action of the foot treadle 38, which is pivotally mounted upon a fixed part .39 and with said clutch lever through the-rod 40, bell crank lever 41 and rod 42, it is out of the path of the key and the key spring (not shown) moves the key axially and the end thereof is projected into the notch 37 in the gear 30 and a rigid connection isthen made between the This die is held crank shaft 11 and said secondary or auxiliary shaft 20, whereby motion is imparted to the latter.

To break this-connection and cause the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 to come to a full stop, the pressure upon the foot treadle 38 is removed, the spring 43 upon the rod 42 swings the clutch lever 34 upon its pivot mounting and the free end thereof is projected into the path of the key 32, and as the notch 33 engages the clutch lever, the key is again moved axially in the hub! 31 and the end thereof is withdrawn from the notch 37 and the gear 30. The gear 30 thereafter continues .its rotary motion, but without imparting movement to the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20.

The construction and operation of this clutch mechanism is well known in the art and any one of many forms or types of such mechanism can be used equally as well as that herein shown.

The rods or wire lengths to be worked are fed into the machine by feed rolls 44 through a quill 45 in the frame or bed 10 and upon one side but substantially parallel with the die 24. These feed rolls 44 are mounted upon shafts 46 which are operatively connected with each other through the gears '47. Upon one of the shafts 46 is a ratchet disk 48 and a pawl carrier 49 having connected therewith a pawl 50 which during the movement of the pawl carrier 49 in one direction engages the teeth of the ratchet disk 48 and imparts an intermittent movement thereto and through the rolls 44 an intermittent feed of the wire or rod.

The pawl carrier 49 is operated from the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 through a link 51, one end of which is connected with a collar 52 fixed on said shaft, and the other end of which is connected with the pawl carrier 49 by means of the screw 53, the rotation of which moves the end of the link 51 toward and away from the center of the ratchet disk 48 and thereby varies the length of the are through which the pawl carrier 49 travels. and thus rovides means for varying the length of t e feed The numeral 54 designates the stop member which is shown hereinas. mounted upon the end of a rod 55, which is adjustable through a screw 56 toward and away from the face of the die 24., This form of stop mechanism is not new in the art and if desired a stop member having a movement relative to the die and between successive feeding operations, such as is shown in my application for Letters Patent No. 339,100 can be substituted, if desired within my invention.

When this type of stop mechanism is used, the cam 19 is provided witha cam path 92 within which 1s the cam roll 93 connected with the cam lever 94 by the pintle 95. This frame 10, by a stud 96 and connected by the rod 97 with the lever mechanism 98 for "imparting endwise and rotary movement to 7 an le to the the shaft 99 upon which the stop member 54 is secured.

Asthe cam 19 rotates, the rod 97 receives a reciprocatory movement and through the lever mechanism 98 actuates the stop member 54, both toward and away from the die and in a path about the axis of the shaft 99, all of which more particularly appears in the aforesaid application.

After the wire or rod has been fed so the end thereof abuts against the stop member 54, .the portion thereof that projects in front of the plane of the face of the die 24 is cut off from the wire or rod length by a cutter 57 that isconnected with a cutter bar 58 having a movement at substantially a right ate 13, being actuated from the dis 59 on tfie secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 through the pin 60 fixed in said disk, the strap6l, cam plate 62 and the turn buckle connection 63 therebetween. A cam roll 64 fixed in the cutter bar 58 projecting into a cam groove 65 in the cam plat 62 completin the connection.

The turning of this cut off mechanism is" such that at the termination of the feed of the wire or rod, the cutter bar 58 moves inwardly and the'cutter 57 connected therewith severs the projecting end of the wire or rod length and while still in engagement with the cutter is transferred or carried inwardly so that the cut ofi portion of said rod which now becomes blank, is in register with the die opening 25, being held in this relative position by the sprin finger 66 connected with the spring arm 6 that is pivotally mounted at 68 to a bar 69 fixed to a plate 70 and held against lateral movement by the guide block 71. I

Pivotally connected with the bar 69 is a spring post 72 having a spring 73 thereon, one end of which bears against the underside of the spring arm 67, and exerting its tension so as to move the outer end of the spring arm 67 upwardly and the free end of the spring finger 66 inwardly (Figure 7).

As the plate 70 is connected with the cutter bar 58 and moves therewith, obviously the spring finger 66 will hold the blank against the end of the cutter 57 during the movement of the cutter bar 58 toward the die 24. .When the blank is in register with said .die, the movement of the punches or tools is so timed that one of them engages the end of the blank and pushes it intothe die opening 25. The cutter bar 58 is now withdrawn and the spring pin 66 snaps over Y the blank, the arms 67 yielding against the tension of the spring 73 suflicient to permit this movement, and after the said spring finger has been released from the blank,

which is now supported in the die, the spring 73 returns the parts to the relative positions shown in Figure 7 preparatory to receiving the succeeding blank.

After the blank has been operated upon by the punches or tools, it is ejected from the die by a knock-out mechanism that comprises a knock-out pin 74 of substantially the same size and shape and cross-section as the die opening 25 and is actuated from a knockout rod 75 slidably mounted in the frame or bed 10. Axial movement in timed relation to the tool operations is given this knock-out rod 75 from the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 through the knock-out arm 76 pivotally mounted at 77, having a cam roll 78 thereon which rides against the face of the knock-out cam 79., fixed on the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20, a shoe 80 slidably mounted in the feed bracket 81, the links 82 and 83 joined by the turn buckle connection 85, the latter of said links being pivotally connected with the block 84 adjust, able on the knock-out arm 76 toward and away from its pivot mounting 77, and the former of said links with said shoe 80, rock lever 86 pivotally connected with the bracket 81 upon the stud 87 having a connection at one end with the shoe 80 and at the other end with a shoe 88, a block 89 between said latter shoe and the end of the knock-out rod 75, and a stop screw 90 threaded through the bracket 81 to limit the outer position of the shoe 88, with a nut 91 thereon to prevent its accidental and premature movement.

In operation the wire or rod is fed into the machine until the end thereof is brought up against the stop 54 at which time the projecting ortion is cut off to form the blank, and is t en transferred or carried until it is in line with the die opening 25, at which time a tool engages the end of the blank off mechanism is now withdrawn and the inner end of the blank is in engagement with the outer end of the knock-out pin 74. The tools 16 and 17 now perform their operations and are withdrawn, the knockout mechanism being then actuated to eject the blank from the die which drops into a receptacle conveniently arranged to receive it.

The sequence of operations just described are old and well known in the art and my invention consists generally in so actuating these several mechanisms that. the punches or tools connected with the gate 13 and the main crank shaft 11 are in continuous motion and all of the other mechanisms are associated therewith at the will of the operator through manipulation of the foot treadle 38 and parts set in motion as a result thereof. a

The main crank shaft, fly wheels, gate and punches or tools are classified as the and moves it into said opening. /Thecut,

parts of heavy duty, while the feed mechanism, stop mechanism, cut off mechanism, carrier mechanism and knock-out mechanism are all parts of light duty and are at rest, except when under the will of the operator they are connected with the heavy duty parts in the complete operation of the machine.

When the secondary or auxiliary shaft 20 is at rest, the cut off bar and earrierbar are in their back positions substantially as shown in the drawings, and the knock-out pin is in its in position, that is, as the blank is ejected from the die. When the parts are in these positions, the wire or rod is fed into the machine until the end thereof abuts against the stop member 54. The operator now places his foot upon the treadle, a blank is cut from the end of the rod and carried into line with the die, pushed therein by a tool until its inner end abuts against the knock-out pin 7 4, and the tool performs its operation upon the blank, which is then ejected, a complete cycle of operations is then completed and the parts of light duty come to full stop unless the operator maintains pressure upon the treadle 38 in which case ,the operations described are continued. Any device may be utilized within my invention to maintain constant pressure upon the treadle and keep all of the parts operating in sequence.

' This machine when constructed and operated'substantially as above described is of leased, the

special advantage in operating upon wire or rod lengths Where the end is heated. In this case, the operator takes the heated bar, projects it through the quill 45 until the end thereof abuts against the stop member 54, then by actuating the treadle 38 the light duty parts are put into motion and the operations upon the blank completed. As long as the wire or rod is sufficiently heated these operations are continued by maintaining pressure upon the treadle, but when the heated portion of the rod has been entirely out off, the pressure upon the treadle is rearts of light duty come to rest, while t ose of heavy duty continue their movement and the cold rod is withdrawn and reheated or a new heated rod substituted. Such results cannot be obtained by any form of header now in use.

Minor changes and alterations may be made within my invention, aside from those herein suggested, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit my-- self to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described; a tool; a workholder; means to move the tool toward and away tom the workholder; means initially under t e control of the operator to automatically feed a metal length, cut off a portion thereof and present the same to the workholder 1n timed relation with the movement of the tool; and means for ejecting the said portlon from the workholder.

2. In a machine of the character described; a tool; a workholder; means to move the tool toward and away from the workholder; means initially under the control of the operator to feed a metal length at a point distant from said workholder; means for cutting off a portion of said length to form a blank, carrying said blank into line with said workholder, and in timed relation with said tool; and means for ejecting said blank from said workholder.

3. In a machine of the character described; a tool; a workholder; means to move the tool toward and away from the workholder, automatically operating means initially under 'the control of the operator to feed a metal length a predetermined distance, to cut off a portion of said length to form a blank, and transferring the same from the point where cut off to a point in register with said workholder, all of said mechanisms being so timed that when the blank is presented in register with said workholder, said tool will engage the same and push it into said die and opcrate thereon; and means for ejecting the blank from the workholder.

4. In a machine of the character described; a tool; a workholder; a stop member; means for feeding a metal length and limit its movement by said stop member; means for cutting off a portion of said metal length to form a blank; means for carrying said blank from a point where cut off to the said worka second shaft; a clutch arranged to connect the second shaft and the driving shaft at the will of the operator; means brought into connection upon engagement of said clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool said mechanism including means for feeding a metal length; means to limit the extent of said feed; a mechanism for cutting off a portion of said metal length; means for conveying said cut off portion'to said workholder; and means for ejecting the finished work from said workholder.

6. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; a tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to move continuously; a second shaft; means, includinga clutch, to connect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought 'into action upon engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism'in timed relation with the movement of the'tool; said mechanism including a workholder toward and away from which the tool moves, means for feeding a metal length, means for limiting the extent of said feed, means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said workholder, and means for ejecting the finished work from said workholder.

7. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; 2. tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to move continuously; a second shaft; means including a elutch, to connnect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool; said mechanism including a workholder toward and away from which the tool moves, means for feeding a metal length, means for limiting the extent of said feed, means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said workholder; means for ejecting the finished work from said workholder, and means for varying the length of said feed.

8. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; a tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to move continuously; a second shaft; means including a clutch, to

connect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool; said mechanism including a workholder toward and away from which the tool moves, means for feeding a metal length, sto means for limiting the 'extent of said fee means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said workholder, means for ejecting the finished work from said workholder, means for varying the length ofsaid feed, and means for varying the position of said stop means.

9. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; a

tool; connections between the tool and'the shaft to cause the tool to move continuously; a second shaft; means including a clutch, to connect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed, and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement ofthe tool; said mechanism including a work holder toward and away from which the tool moves, means for feeding a metal length, means for limiting the extent of said feed, means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said workholder, means for ejecting the finished work from said workholder; and means for varying the relative position of said ejecting mechanism with said workholder.

10. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; a tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to move con tinuously; a second shaft; means including a clutch, to connect the. driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool; said mechanismincluding a work holder toward and away from which the tool moves, means for feeding ametal length, means for limiting the extent of said feed, means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said work holder, means for ejecting said work from said workholder; the connection means between the said shafts being such that they are disengaged automatically after the second shaft'has made a single rotation.

11. In a machine of the character described, a a continuously running driving shaft; a tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to move continuously; a second shaft; means including a clutch, to connect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool; said' mechanism including a work holder toward and awa from which the tool moves, means for fee ing a metal length, stop means for limiting the extent of said feed, means for varying the relative position, of' said stopmeans in relation to said side die, means for cutting off a portion of said metal length and carrying it to said work holder, means for e'ecting the finished work from said work hol er; and means for varying the relative position of said ejecting mechanism with said work holder.

12. In a machine of the character described; a continuously running driving shaft; a tool; connections between the tool and the shaft to cause the tool to-move continuously; a second shaft; means including a clutch, to connect the driving shaft and the second shaft, the clutch being constructed and arranged to connect the two shafts at the will of the operator; means brought into action upon the engagement-of the clutch for automatically operating mechanism in timed relation with the movement of the tool; said mechanism including a work holder toward varying the relative (position of said ejecting mechanism with sai work holder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my si nature.

RIGl IARD LESTER WILCOX. 

